WELCOME TO HAITI!!!

We were up and at ‘em about 8am with passports in hand for the border crossing. After Kendra came out of the Dominican building for the border crossing we sang Victory in Jesus, even JohnBern (our great friend and translator) knew it. We drove the quarter of a mile through the market area (market is closed today - whew!) to the Haitian side to be approved. This side is usually more difficult, but luckily we crossed with somewhat ease.

A few small towns after the border, we came across the Love a Child Village. Kendi talked about how she has passed this complex and the neighboring homes many times, curious about what they are doing and how the development is going. We drove up to the gate of Love a Child Village and as God's timing would have it, ran into the Project Manager Robert who was on his way back to the homes construction site. He invited us back and spent a lot of time giving us the details of this project. It was similar to what we are trying to develop in Croix de Bouquets but on a much, much larger scale. A multi-millionaire has funded the entire community of homes. There are three separate phases with 50 homes each.  They pick the people to live there based on the group of refugees who had moved out this far from the earthquake. You can see the refugee camp area from the new development, giving those families something to look forward to. They have created classrooms for schools out of foam core homes, have a jungle gym playground like one you would see in the US, a church, and wells for clean water. This group really has a solid plan for this model community.

All residents sign a contract to move in. They must pay 20,000 goudes over 5 years equalling 4,000 goudes a year or $100 US dollars a year. Even though each home costs $4,000 US to build, they wanted Haitians to have to contribute  so it didn't feel like a handout with the idea that you will keep something nice that you are a part of. Each family also had to sign a contract of rules that include no cooking in the homes, all trash must be picked up, no fighting, etc. Your first offense is your last and you will be kicked out.

There are already families living in the first phase of 50 homes. The wood has been treated for termites and will be retreated as needed. A table, 4 chairs, a bed, and bunk beds are the furniture items that come with the house. Each home comes on a cement slab and includes a beautiful porch for shade.

Following our tour by Robert (from Holland), his Haitian assistant Jean Pierre invited us to see his home. One small main room with two bedrooms (enough room to fit one bed).

Afterwards, we went back to the Love a Child Village to visit Pastor Rod Baker from Tulsa, Oklahoma as well as Andy and Erin Hoffman, their 4 small girls and Erin's sister Laurel.  Pastor Rod has been here since last April building homes for single mothers/widows with many children.  Andy Hoffman and his family joined him three weeks ago for a 6 month stay. Besides building these homes, they also have a traveling van with a stage to do shows and play games with kids. They were sure to let us know that was their primary focus as Rod was the Children's Pastor in Tulsa before coming here.  They showed us around the compound where they are living, the Hoffmans homeschooling their girls and Rod pointed out a truck and shared a story about how God had provided it to him for free.

All of the vehicles for their group were stuck in customs for five months.  They had been walking and getting rides to anywhere they needed to go.  God encouraged Rod to call his friend to ask if he could borrow a truck because he knew the friend had a truck and they needed to transport house sides to a worksite.  The man on the other end of the phone said “Let me call you back.”  Then, 20 minutes later, the friend called back and told Rod that when they hung up the first time his wife had reminded him of a dream he had 20 years ago.  The dream was that someone would need a truck, but the man thought the his dream was in Africa.  She reminded the friend that he needed to give Rod the truck and they have been delivering houses with it ever since..

We ended our time together with a word of prayer and Rod said our paths crossed for a reason. He also said he isn’t going to stay in Haiti a minute more or a minute less than God says he should.

Driving further into Haiti we stopped at Croix-des-Bouquet to see the land where we have been building, then stopped by HELP, INC. to drop off the plants since they had been cooking in the van for over 24 hours.  The children we had seen during our first visit were there for their after school program of lunch.  It took them a minute to get comfortable with us again, but then they were there same old charismatic selves.  We played games with them, jump roped with them, and sang songs.  It was fun to see them laugh and play with us.

Travel Day

The morning was spent packing, sorting and organizing our supplies for Haiti.  Around 11:30am our friend and translator JohnBern Thomas came to the Luna residents packed and ready to go.

JohnBern became our good friend during our first trip to Haiti.  While he is originally from Haiti, he moved to the Dominican Republic after the earthquake to play more jazz music as he is a drummer.  We have enjoyed learning more about the Haitian culture from him and appreciate his friendship.

The drive was just as we remembered it, but this time there were more stops.  Between Santiago and Santo Domingo there is a nursery where we purchased mango trees, lemon trees, orange bushes, torny bushes, and a tree for shade.  We had to fit it in the van with the rest of our stuff and five people.

The group didn’t make it in time to the border to cross, so we stayed in a small hotel near the border named Hotel Paradise and it was anything but.

Weekend Update

Samuel translating for Pastor Jeff as he preaches on Friday night.

Now that all of our theologies have been jacked up by Pastor Jeff and Pastor Frazier, we are sad to see our time with them come to an end for now.  They have become our friends and we are glad to have had the opportunity to meet them.  Spending time with them was a wonderful way to prepare our hearts for Haiti.  Because of our conversations with these hombres en Christo, we have found ourselves challenging each other with deeper questions and discussions.

During the day on Saturday, we had free time to explore Santiago and on our way back to the Institute ran into Pastor Frazier and his friend Pastor Christian.  Pastor Frazier asked him to pray for us as we decide the next steps in our lives.  Pastor Christian has a very rare and unique ministry of prophetic word, so after praying for us he began to have a prophecy about us as a group and then individually.  As a group, he said we have a "divine connection" and individually God gave him insight into our lives and was able to match our situations in life with a biblical reference having never met us before.  God is definitely using Pastor Christian in the spiritual gift of prophecy in an explosive and monumental way to change people's perspective on their own lives.

After watching Pastor Jeff preach a few times at the Pastors' Conference, on Sunday morning we ventured into Santiago to see Pastor Frazier speak at a Free Methodist Church.  He spoke in Spanish and we had a volunteer translator help us understand the major ideas of his message.  Pastor Frazier spoke on the prodigal son and how God doesn't change his plans, but we do.

The afternoon was filled with a big lunch back in Jarabacoa at the Luna household, then another round of two sermons for Pastor Jeff at the Luna's church.  He uniquely put how paradise and the love of Jesus is here on earth and within us as Christ followers.  Not just someday in Heaven.  Fifty people between the two services were impacted greatly by his message and renewed their first love.

Our last supper with the two Pastors was at a Columbian restaurant where Alonda and Danny ate an omelette/quesadilla mixture that looked...delicious.

We bid farewell to the Pastors early Monday morning and hope in the near future to venture to Oklahoma to see them soon!

Comunidad Cristiana de Restauracion

Doris explaining the mission of Comunidad Cristiana de Restauracion.

After hearing Pastor Jeff preach last night in a small facility in Santo Domingo, we stayed with a few of Samuel's lifelong friends, Doris and Rafael.  Doris has played a big role in reaching out to those less fortunate in a very dangerous neighborhood of Santo Domingo.  Here drugs, gang violence, and prostitution are very prevalent.  They have created a community center in which a variety of programs are available for women and children.  Public school in the Dominican is only a half day, so to keep children off the streets they have created programs to help with spiritual, physical, emotional, and vocational growth.  A small building has been purchased to house a clinic with a pediatrician, gynecologist, and dentist to help that demographic.  They are connected with the Willow Creek Church and are doing amazing things for the people in that area.

It is easy to see why Pastor Elbin is the leader of the Comunidad Cristiana de Restauracion.  God has gifted him with a vision, drive, and passion for his community of influence.  He has dreams that are beyond his own reach, but a calling that will reach those dreams and beyond.

Doris and Pastor Elbin showing us the map of their area of influence.

God is good!

Los Pastores

On Thursday evening we picked up Pastor Jeff Johnson and his friend Pastor Fraiser in Santo Domingo, DR.  Pastor Jeff Johnson is a very interesting man as he is the superintendent of the Mid American Conference of the Free Methodist Church.  He has had speaking and teaching engagements around the world in several countries.  In fact, six days ago he was in Ethiopia, preached over the weekend at his home church (4 services) and then taught three courses at the university before traveling to the Dominican Republic.  We have enjoyed our conversations and theological discussions with him during our time with him.  He is a person who makes you think about a variety of topics in your Christian walk, but also likes to make us laugh at the same time. 

Pastor Fraiser has a very inspiring personal story on how he became a pastor.  From growing up in the church, to falling away, and finally surrendering his finances, positions and relationships to Christ.  Now, he is now a proud father of a seven year old, a thriving pastor in a bilingual church, and a successful businessman.  We are excited to hear him preach on Sunday and hope that American Airlines decide to bring him his luggage soon as we spent much time with him trying to find a suit.

While we have enjoyed and feel blessed that we are able to spend time with Pastor Jeff and Pastor Fraiser at this Pastors' Conference, we are looking forward to traveling to Haiti on Monday.

We Have Landed

Arrived in the Dominican Republic at 1:30pm on Wednesday to be greeted by Kendra Luna.  We immediately went to La Sarena to buy groceries and supplies both for Haiti and her family while she is away.  It still boggles our minds that they don't refridgerate eggs, milk, or cheese here.  After we filled two carts full, we traveled the hour drive to Jarabacoa where Samuel and Kendra live with their three boys.

We began our travels up the mountain and could feel the temperature dropping drastically.  Kendra filled us in on what they have been up to the last six weeks and we did the same.  As we pulled into the drive way we were greeted by Landon, Nathan and Andersen - their three handsome boys.  They helped us unload the groceries and while Samuel put hamburgers on the grill we relaxed in our rooms from the long night and day of traveling.

For dinner we had a BBQ with the family on the patio in their backyard.  The yard is lush with palm trees and feels very tropical.   With a basketball hoop out front, the three boys and Emily played a game of basketball, then Danny joined the shooting around.

We were all exhausted from the lack of sleep the night before so we showered and went to bed by 8:30pm.

Pre-Trip Thoughts: Danny

Before my first Haiti experience and since I have returned, most of my time has been spent working as a substitute teacher.  I have been trying to get as many days as I can to pay for student loans, bills, etc.  During this time, I have also been trying to find a full-time job.  My main job search areas have been in Camp Ministries and Student Life.  

When I found out that we had the “go” to return to Haiti, Emily, Alonda and I started brainstorming ideas of how to raise the money to get there.  Most of this has been done through letters, emails and word of mouth.  I am also working on a video to document our trip and what is happening in Haiti. 



After returning from Haiti I was in a state of “culture shock” for a long time.  Going to Haiti has made me thankful for every thing I have.  The magnitude of the disaster that has taken place there even after a year of clean up and rebuilding is unfathomable.  Even through pictures and videos it is truly inconceivable.  Haiti is just a completely different world.  It is not a tourist attraction or a vacation spot, but that is not why I am going back.  I am going because this is a country that needs so much help and a people that survive with almost nothing.  A person shouldn’t have to be afraid of things like getting sick from drinking water or being kidnapped for walking down the street.  These along with many other things are problems that the people of Haiti face everyday.  If we can help solve a few of those problems by building shelters and giving them clean water by digging a well, then our time will be well spent.

-Danny



A final yes and preparations begin.

Alonda - Danny - Emily

After returning from our first trip to Haiti, I am excited to officially announce that we will be travelling back to complete the project the original group from our church began.  Danny, Alonda and I got very excited about the possibility of seeing the building project through while we were still on our first trip and are elated that as of last Thursday, we have been given the go-ahead to return.

During our initial preparations, our main concern was finances.  Isn't that always it?  Amazingly enough, before we even begin asking for support, we each were able to share our excitement with a few people who offered to help us return.  God is good!  We had a few small bumps in the road during our primary planning, so to be validated in this way about our trip brought us all a peace of mind that we knew this is what we are supposed to be doing with our time at this point in our lives - at least to help bring this project to completion.

I am overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from our families, friends, and our churches.  Gandhi said "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" and I truly believe we are doing just that.